Category: Sports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly negotiating with England’s star batter Joe Root to sign him for the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL).

According to reports, multiple franchises want to secure the prolific batter to strengthen their squads ahead of the expanded tournament, though officials have not finalised an agreement as of yet.

The reports come as the league attracts growing interest from international players with English all-rounder Moeen Ali and South Africa’s Faf du Plessis already confirming their entry into the draft for the upcoming season, generating excitement among fans and teams.

The PCB has also introduced discussions around direct player signings alongside the traditional draft system, which could allow franchises to secure up to two marquee players outside the draft pool, sources said.

Root, 34, has enjoyed a stellar international career and continues to deliver consistent performances for England. He recently surpassed 22,000 international runs, cementing his status as one of modern cricket’s greats.

The PCB has also received 12 bids from investors across five countries for two new franchise slots ahead of PSL 11, demonstrating the league’s growing commercial appeal.

Bidders from the United States (US), Australia, Canada the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan have submitted proposals after the board conducted promotional roadshows in London and New York.

The PCB has shortlisted 10 bidders for the auction scheduled for January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. Successful bidders will select their franchise team names from six cities: Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad and Sialkot.

The 11th edition of PSL will be played from March 26 to May 3, 2026, featuring eight teams for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn has been put in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, foreign media reports said on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old fell ill while lying down on Boxing Day last week and required immediate hospitalisation. Australian media confirmed he is receiving treatment for meningitis, a potentially deadly inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

“He is getting the best of treatment,” Test great and close friend Adam Gilchrist told The Australian newspaper. “Amanda (his partner) and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes,” he added.

Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who played alongside Martyn for years, also offered his support.

“Lots of love and prayers… keep strong and fighting, legend. Love to the family,” he wrote on X.

Martyn represented Australia in 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006 and played 208 one-day internationals. 

The elegant batsman scored 13 Test centuries and maintained an impressive average of 46.37 throughout his career. 

He played a crucial role in Australia’s 2003 ODI World Cup victory, smashing 88 not out in the final against India in a match-winning partnership with Ricky Ponting.

Martyn retired during the 2006 Ashes series and has maintained a low profile since leaving professional cricket.

A hardliner Hindutva activist has threatened to beat up Bangladeshi cricketers if they participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), going on to warn Bollywood star and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan against allowing Bangladeshi players to play for his team.

“We will beat up Bangladeshi players if they come to play in the IPL. We will even beat SRK if he lets them play in his team,” the activist said in a video that has now gone viral over the internet.

Yes, KKR is owned by Shah Rukh Khan, But:

KKR’s director is Venky Mysore.
KKR’s Coach is Abhishek Nayar.
Co-owner is Jahnavi Mehta, daughter of Juhi Chawla.

These people were present at the auction table when KKR picked Mustafizur Rehman. Can you guess why this guy only… pic.twitter.com/prtrJ98y8X

— Jawaharlal Nehru (@PMNehru) December 29, 2025

The activist also referenced a previous attack to establish his group’s credibility. “Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the biggest director. We even beat him for 8 hours when he insulted Karni Mata in the Padmaavat movie.”

The threats come after Shiv Sena leader Neeraj Sethi from Haryana announced that his organisation has decided Bangladeshi players will not be allowed to play IPL matches in India. 

Bangladeshi cricketers will not be allowed to play in IPL.

– Gurugram Shiv Sena announces ban on Bangladeshi players over attacks on Hindus pic.twitter.com/avwZplIxSw

— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) December 29, 2025

Indian sports journalist Sushant Mehta also ridiculed the purchase of Bangladeshi players, calling Mustafizur Rahman a “2 kori ka [cheap] player”.

Why Are Bangladesh Players Allowed in IPL? | Controversy Explained #Bangladesh #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/mIAaLugHcm

— Sports Yaari (@YaariSports) December 22, 2025

Rahman was the only Bangladeshi player to be sold in the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on December 16. He was bought by KKR for Rs9.2 crores.

While social media users condemned the discriminatory rhetoric by Mehta, questioning his integrity as a journalist, a majority of Indian netizens called on IPL franchises to ban Bangladeshi players and not include them in the auction at all.

Relations between Bangladesh and India have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. Dhaka suspended visa and consular services at its missions in New Delhi and Agartara on December 22 following protests outside the facilities.

India also suspended visa services at its Chittagong visa application center in Bangladesh after widespread violent protests erupted following the death of prominent Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Hadi. 

The 32-year-old critic of India died on December 18 in a Singapore hospital after being shot in the head by masked gunmen in Dhaka a week earlier. 

Hadi played a key role in the 2024 uprising that ended former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.

Tensions escalated further after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu man who was lynched and burned in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district over blasphemy allegations. 

New Delhi and Dhaka summoned each other’s envoys earlier this week in a tit-for-tat move. The visa freeze affects tens of thousands of Bangladeshis seeking medical treatment in India.

Pakistan cricketer Sahibzada Farhan made headlines in a recent interview while playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) when he declared Ahmed Shehzad his cricket idol.

The host asked Sahibzada Farhan a series of rapid-fire questions, forcing him to choose between Ahmed Shehzad and some of cricket’s biggest names. 

When asked to pick between Ahmed Shehzad and Saeed Anwar, Sahibzada Farhan chose Ahmed Shehzad without hesitation. The host continued with Ahmed Shehzad or Virender Sehwag, and Sahibzada Farhan again picked Ahmed Shehzad. He stuck with his choice when asked about Ahmed Shehzad versus Rohit Sharma.

The final question proved more challenging. When asked to choose between Ahmed Shehzad and Sachin Tendulkar, Sahibzada Farhan paused briefly before answering. “As of cricket, Sachin, but my favourite is Ahmed Shehzad,” he said.

Sahibzada Farhan explained his admiration for Ahmed Shehzad earlier in the interview. “Ahmed Shehzad is my idol, ever since I started playing cricket. I have been watching him for so long. The way he plays, he is a very stylish player,” he said.

The interview sparked mixed reactions on social media. One user wrote, “I guess he is trolling.” Another user said, “Is k liye aik or documentary,” suggesting the response deserved its own documentary. Some fans respected his view, with one commenting, “His personal opinion.” 

However, a skeptical user joked, “Shahzad ne paise diye honge,” implying Ahmed Shehzad might have paid for the endorsement.

Sahibzada Farhan gained fame after his fearless batting in the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, particularly in his innings against Jasprit Bumrah.

He faced 34 balls from Bumrah, scoring 51 runs including six fours and three sixes. Sahibzada Farhan became the first-ever Pakistan batter to hit India’s speedster Jasprit Bumrah for a six in international cricket.

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua survived a car crash in Nigeria that killed two members of his team on Monday.

The former world champion was a passenger in a Lexus that collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Ogun State around noon local time. 

The crash killed Joshua’s close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.

Joshua remains in a stable condition at a Lagos hospital, where doctors are monitoring him. His promoter Matchroom Boxing confirmed the deaths and asked for privacy for the affected families.

Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for more than 10 years and helped prepare the boxer for major fights, including his recent victory over Jake Paul. He co-founded the London-based gym Evolve, which will close on December 30 to mourn his loss. 

Hours before the crash, Joshua posted an Instagram video of himself playing table tennis with Ayodele.

Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps said preliminary findings suggest the Lexus exceeded the speed limit and lost control during an overtaking maneuver before crashing into the stationary commercial truck. Joshua’s security team rescued the boxer and the driver from the wreckage. 

Video footage captured Joshua being helped from the back seat of the destroyed SUV before emergency services transported him to a medical facility in Lagos.

Joshua, who was born in Watford, has family roots in Sagamu, a town in Ogun State near the crash site. 

He was traveling from Lagos to join his family for New Year celebrations when the accident occurred. The boxer had been visiting Nigeria following his knockout victory over Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke with Joshua personally to offer condolences and wish him a speedy recovery. 

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway ranks among Nigeria’s deadliest roads, with heavy traffic during the festive season. 

Officials announced they will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the crash.

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo won the Middle East Player of the Year award for the third consecutive time at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, declaring his ambition to reach 1,000 career goals.

The 40-year-old star beat prominent players including Karim Benzema, Salem Al-Dawsari and Riyad Mahrez to claim the honor. Ronaldo scored 40 goals across all competitions during 2025, showcasing his remarkable form and consistent performance.

The Al-Nassr forward, whose contract runs until mid-2027, delivered an emotional speech after receiving the award.

“It’s very hard to play more, but my passion is high and I’m ready to play more,” Ronaldo said. “Regardless of whether I play in the Middle East or in Europe, I love playing football, scoring goals and winning trophies,” he added.

He then revealed his ultimate target. “You all know what my goal is. I want to win more trophies and I want to score a thousand goals,” Ronaldo said. “If I don’t get injured, I will definitely score a thousand goals, Inshallah.”

Football fans across social media celebrated the Portuguese icon’s achievement and determination.

Inshallah? He’s a Muslim now?” one user questioned.

“Every time he says inshallah publicly he gets a €1M bonus from Saudi,” another user joked.

“Inshallah indeed,” a user wrote with the clapping emoji.

“His name is literally Cristiano lol,” one person pointed out.

“Musalmano Ronaldo,” another user wrote with a heart emoji.

“You can’t hate this man,” one fan commented.

“Ronaldo rocks,” another user wrote.

“Classic Ronaldo, aiming for the ultimate goal, let’s go!” a user added.

Ronaldo currently has 956 career goals across club and international football. His declaration to reach 1,000 goals would require him to score 44 more goals.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Sunday announced getting a divorce after more than six years of marriage.

Taking to Instagram, Imad said, “After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce.”

“I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos,” he added.

The 37-year-old also cautioned against speculation or misinformation surrounding the matter.

“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary.”

With reference to his children, Imad said he remained their father and would continue to care for them fully and responsibly.

Separately, Sania Ashfaq also shared a detailed statement on Instagram, alleging “involvement of a third party”.

“I am writing this from a place of deep pain. My home has been broken, and my children have been left without their father. I am a mother of three, including a five month old infant who has yet to be held by his father,” she wrote.

“Like many marriages, ours had difficulties, yet it continued to exist. I remained committed as a wife and mother and made sincere efforts to preserve our family. What ultimately ended this marriage was the involvement of a third party, whose intention was to marry my husband, became the final blow to an already struggling union,” she claimed.

She also spoke of the hardships she faced during pregnancy.

“Following this, I endured emotional torment, mistreatment, abortion and abandonment while pregnant and vulnerable, choosing patience for the sake of my children and the dignity of my home,” Sania wrote.

She also disputed the legal validity of the divorce proceedings.

“The divorce process itself is legally disputed and remains under scrutiny. The truth will emerge through proper channels,” she said.

“It is crucial to mention that there is documented evidence available for each and every culprit in this matter but I’m being threatened to not post it publicly. For every individual who attempts to threaten me shall be dealt with by the law,” she wrote.

Sania concluded her statement by saying, “I speak today not out of vengeance, but out of truth for myself, for my children, and for every woman who was told to endure in silence.”

Imad Wasim and Sania Ashfaq got married in 2019 and have three children together.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Todd Greenberg has admitted that he couldn’t sleep after watching 20 wickets tumble on day one of the Boxing Day Test, knowing the quick finish would cost the organisation millions.

“I didn’t sleep well last night, put it that way,” Greenberg told a media outlet before day two.

“It was an amazing day of Test cricket, so for that record number of people who were hee, boy, they’ve had an experience. But our challenge is to make sure we can continue those experiences day after day.”

The organisation had high hopes for the Melbourne Test between Australia and England. Record crowds seemed guaranteed after tickets for the first three days sold out with unprecedented demand throughout the series.

More than 94,000 spectators packed the stadium on day one. However, the match finished on day two, triggering serious financial losses.

Cricket Australia already lost around AUD 5 million ($3.3 million) from the two-day Perth Test after 19 wickets fell on the opening day. 

The abbreviated Boxing Day Test threatens similar damage despite record attendance.

When asked whether 20 wickets in a day was too many, Greenberg didn’t hold back. “The short answer for that in my opinion is yes,” he said.

“As mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer. A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business.”

He stressed the need for better balance between bat and ball, noting the Melbourne pitch clearly favoured bowlers on day one.

“I would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday slightly favoured the ball,” Greenberg said. “The batters have some ownership in some of that, it’s not all around the pitch, but we’ve got some challenges.”

Greenberg hinted that Cricket Australia might take a more active role in pitch preparation going forward.

“Historically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those characteristics to be presented,” he explained. “But it’s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially.”

Cricket Australia already faces financial pressure after making several staff redundant this year while seeking cost savings in high performance and other areas. Greenberg currently works on bringing private investment into the Big Bash League (BBL) within the next 12 months.

Another large financial loss from this Test would prove untimely.

On the field, England secured their first Test victory in Australia since 2010 on Saturday, defeating the hosts by four wickets at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The visitors chased down 175 runs in 33 overs, with Jacob Bethell scoring 40, Zak Crawley 37 and Ben Duckett 34.

Australia collapsed for just 132 in their second innings despite Travis Head’s 46. Brydon Carse took four wickets while Ben Stokes claimed three.

Australia have already won the five-match series with three victories, but the financial toll of shortened Tests has dampened celebrations for Cricket Australia’s management.